Air India Express has announced the launch of direct weekly flights between Varanasi and Bangkok, further strengthening international connectivity from Uttar Pradesh. The new service will commence from February 1, 2026.
With this launch, Varanasi becomes the fifth Indian city connected directly to Bangkok by Air India Express, joining Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune and Surat. The non-stop flight is expected to boost outbound leisure travel from eastern Uttar Pradesh while also improving access for international tourists visiting Varanasi, Sarnath and other destinations along the Buddhist circuit.
Bookings for the new route are now open on the airline’s official website, mobile application and other major booking platforms.
Flight Schedule (effective February 1, 2026 | All timings local):
- Varanasi – Bangkok: 12:35 hrs departure, 18:05 hrs arrival (Sunday)
- Bangkok – Varanasi: 19:05 hrs departure, 21:35 hrs arrival (Sunday)
Commenting on the announcement, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said the new route aligns with the airline’s strategy of enhancing direct international connectivity from non-metro and Tier-II cities. He added that the service would support inbound tourism to one of India’s oldest living cities while strengthening cultural and Buddhist travel links with Thailand.
The launch further builds on Air India Express’ strong presence in Thailand, where it already operates flights connecting Bangkok with Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune and Surat, along with services between Hyderabad and Phuket.
Air India Express also continues to expand its operations from Varanasi, operating over 70 weekly flights to domestic destinations including Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, along with international connectivity to Sharjah and now Bangkok. Recently, the airline introduced a refreshed cabin experience on its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, alongside its new brand campaign, Xplore More, Xpress More, aimed at encouraging travellers to explore local culture across its growing network of over 60 destinations.